Jarrett, Thomas Dunbar

Thomas Dunbar Jarrett (b. 1912 d. 2000) was appointed Acting President of Atlanta University after the death of Rufus Clement in 1967 and elected as the seventh President of the school in 1968, serving until 1977. He began his tenure at Atlanta University in 1947 as a Professor of English and progressed to become the Chairman of the Department of English in 1957 and Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in 1960. During his presidency, Dr. Jarrett expanded the academic offerings. Doctoral programs were established in educational administration, political science, and chemistry. New departments in Afro-American Studies, Public Administration, Special Education, and Administration and Supervision were created and programs developed in urban education, visiting teacher training, and early childhood development. He received his undergraduate degree from Knoxville College, and his graduate degrees from Fisk University and the University of Chicago.